One of the main technology hubs in Brazil, Porto Digital de Recife will gain an innovation hub in Aveiro, in central Portugal. In addition to internationalizing the project, the initiative also wants to stop the loss of qualified professionals to other countries.
“Portugal seemed to us to be the clearest place for several reasons, the first being the language and, secondly, because it is the gateway to Europe. We saw that it was easier to enter to compete on the European continent, which has space for software companies grow, than going to try in the United States market, which is much more competitive”, says Pierre Lucena, president of Porto Digital.
The Covid-19 pandemic boosted the digitization of several services and further accelerated the growth of Porto Digital, which currently houses more than 350 companies, development organizations and government bodies. There are around 14,700 professionals and entrepreneurs, with annual revenues of more than R$3.67 billion in 2021.
According to Lucena, the existence of a European hub will help to hire talents who, today, are not willing to move to Recife, in addition to reaching out to those who are attracted to the idea of ​​working abroad. “There are many people who want to live abroad, even if only for a season. With the center in Aveiro, we will be able to attract this professional”, she says.
Another advantage of having an arm of Porto Digital in Portugal is the possibility of accessing the generous innovation funds granted by the European Union and other institutions on the old continent.
“It is a very important point for our companies and our research centers”, says the executive. “Brazil today does not have any resources for innovation. This government that is there has dismantled all the ones they had. There is nothing left.”
“Technology needs initial resources from non-profit funds, because innovation has risks. The United States does it, Israel does it”, completes the executive.
The choice of Aveiro, a city with around 81,000 inhabitants 75 km away from Porto, was due to the combination of good infrastructure, a university with a strong technological component and, above all, more affordable prices than in large cities.
The City Council (equivalent to the city hall) has also committed to supporting the project, providing a building to install the technology hub, as well as facilitating school enrollment and access to health services.
“The idea is for people to leave Brazil with everything in place. Home, schools for the children, access to health care. Everything. Just arrive and start working”, says the president of Porto Digital, Pierre Lucena.
Municipal authorities say they are still available to assist in the integration of new residents.
“The City Council is committed to cooperating and supporting so that people have that ‘soft landing’, a smooth and easy arrival”, says the mayor of Aveiro, José Ribau Esteves, from the PSD (Social Democratic Party), center-right.
As Portugal has a special visa for technology professionals, the procedures related to the issuance of the document should happen without major problems for those interested.
Due to high demand, the housing issue can be more complicated. With a very heated real estate sector, several Portuguese cities have faced a shortage of properties and price increases.
“The supply of housing is growing, but we also have a very strong increase in demand”, recognizes the mayor.
“My conviction is that, with what we have under construction, the increase in supply will be enough to keep up with the increase in demand that will come along with Porto Digital”, says Ribau Esteves.
In addition to the economic benefits, the arrival of Brazilian professionals and their families can help with demographic indicators in Portugal, which has an aging population and a low birth rate.
The emigration of highly qualified young people is also a Portuguese reality, albeit on a smaller scale than a decade ago, in the midst of an economic crisis.
Although the IT market has a higher remuneration than the average of other professions in Portugal, salaries are still lower than in other European countries, such as Germany, Ireland and France. Therefore, it is common for Portuguese professionals to end up migrating to other countries.
In the opinion of the mayor of Aveiro, Porto Digital is an initiative with “internationally recognized success”, and the arrival of highly qualified professionals should help boost the city’s already growing ecosystem of technological innovation.
“We are talking about a sector of enormous growth in Portugal, Brazil and all over the world. Therefore, professionals will find many opportunities here”, evaluates Ribau Esteves.
The new hub would also facilitate Portuguese companies’ access to the Brazilian market, through the integration of the Porto Digital ecosystem in Recife.
In addition to the university, where Brazilian students form the largest foreign community, the city also has an important telecommunications research hub.
The idea is for the hub to start operating in the first half of 2023. The exact date, and other details, should be set in November, when representatives from Aveiro will visit Recife.
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
